It was early evening. We often played musical beds at bedtime because the younger children liked the security of a sibling or two falling asleep with them, especially when older brothers and sisters were still up and having fun. So it happened that I was laying down on Emily’s bed nursing an infant while she played with my hair and sucked her thumb. Five-year-old David was almost asleep across the room. His breathing was slow and deep. The only other sound in the peaceful room came from a fan that created just enough white noise to drown out the other kid’s voices.

David suddenly sat straight up in bed, popped his eyes open and yelled excitedly,

“Someone just called my name. I think it was God!”

Emily took her thumb out of her mouth and lisped,

“Who is God?”

I turned my head to look at her and smiled, “You know, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Emily was still puzzled,

“You mean the priest at church?”

“No”, I responded, “The God that fills the whole universe.”

Emily took her thumb out of her mouth and said very dismissively,

“Oh, Himmm. I know Himmm.”

Then she closed her eyes and stuck her thumb back in her mouth.

Discussion closed.

I barely held in my laughter. This little squirt took for granted her close relationship with the Living God,King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God is close to babies and little children. His relationship with them is not complicated, as natural as breathing. They are simply His children; He loves them and they reflect love back.

David interrupted and added joyfully,

“Well, He called my name!”

Emily opened her eyes and stated very authoritatively but in a nasal, little girl voice,

“It was just your imagination, Daaave.”

Then she closed her eyes and started sucking her thumb again.

David was upset. I countered her statement,

“It could be God, Emily. The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts and does communicate with us.”

David was satisfied and he lay back down to sleep.

But Emily, with her eyes still closed whispered to me,

“It was just his imagination!”

Then she popped her thumb back into her mouth.

Discussion closed.

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Published by melanie jean juneau

Melanie Jean Juneau serves as the Editor in Chief of Catholic Stand. She is a mother of nine children who has edited her kid's university term papers for over a decade. She blogs at joy of nine9 and mother of nine9. Her writing is humorous and heart warming; thoughtful and thought-provoking. Part of her call and her witness is to write the truth about children, family, marriage and the sacredness of life. Melanie is the administrator of ACWB, a columnist at CatholicLane, CatholicStand, Catholic365 , CAPC, author of Echoes of the Divine and Oopsy Daisy, and coauthor of Love Rebel: Reclaiming Motherhood.
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The story of young Samuel is one of my favorite OT stories. I have heard him call my name in that twilight place between sleep and awake. I have no doubt your boy did too. Little sisters will get their turn at hearing Him call them too, thanks for the chuckle this afternoon.

Melanie, I love the perspective that children bring- both in the understanding that yes, God could in fact be talking to them and the closeness that we as adults so long for. This morning as I was struggling to drive in the snow glare, I grumbled a bit. To which my youngest aptly said, “Well, I think it’s beautiful, you can see God’s sunrise perfectly!”